Arsenal's big big big win

Arsenal score a big victory by going into the San Siro and coming out with a 2-0 victory. It is safe to say that this victory is a huge boost for the team. A couple of thoughts:

The Good:

• Fabregas - What a wonder strike from distance. The Spaniard played a solid game in the midfield controlling the pace of the game. But that 30 yard strike was sheer genius. Arsenal finally took a chance with that strike, taking what Milan was giving them, which was acres of land in front of the penalty box but no room after that, just tempting long range efforts.
• Sagna - The Arsenal left back played a solid game shutting down that channel and using his pace to back track and cover the back line.
• Adebayour - The large Togolese striker demonstrated his ability to take on the defense 1 on 1 as well as in the air forced the Milan defense to sit very deep. I will admit to have doubted his talents since he came over from Monaco, not that he was not a quality striker but I never thought he could be a #1 striker.
• Arsenal's attack - I love the fact Arsenal looked to attack from the opening, they were not shy in sending up players into the offensive zone. Granted they tried to make too many pretty passes into the box, looking to put together one their patented 7 pass master pieces only to spring the last man for a simple tap in for a goal....but Arsenal were clearly not looking to go to shoot out, or simply looking to strike on the break.
  

The Bad:

• Pato finishing - The Brazilian has been very hyped since coming over to Milan. The "Duck" was seen as some fresh blood being infused into an aging Milan side. Granted he has some solid goals this season, but is not lighting the world on fire at least not compared to the hype he has been getting. He had a golden chance in the first half where he found himself alone in front of net and inexplicably tried to pass the ball into the goal...only to pass it to Almunia.
• Inzaghi diving - The Italian diver was flopping all over the place, once again demonstrating he is the king of seeking cheap fouls and cheaper goals.

The Ugly:

• AC Milan Defense - Okay not ugly because they gave up two goals...but more an reflection of the ugly side of Italian football. The football where you regularly find 5 defenders just inside the 18 yard line and three defenders in front of the 18 tracking the ball....and sometimes another player dropping back to trap the ball. I was watching the game with Brett and we both observed that this was so typical of Italian football...defend defend defend. What happened to the days when AC had Gullit, Van Basten, et al and played flowing football???